It's not even been a full day, so we can qualify these at least as first impressions. I've taken care to minimize any legitimate spoilers.
Agree? Disagree? Discuss!
1) '
Surface Tension' - I think most all of us are gonna agree that the new FE is an unmitigated success. First and foremost,
plotlines are finally bloody advancing. I'll admit to concerns that the last several seasons were starting to bog down. Spending time with modestly developed races and adversaries that had been cribbed from single appearances in the source material gave me concern that the storyline was going to wind up in the crufty weeds. It's been taking some epic wellsprings of faith in the Devs that the story wasn't going to wind up as third-rate fanfic. Well the S9 FE finally saw some quality payoff for that faith. So kudos to them.
2)
Kit revamps - I haven't had the opportunity to test 'em out across all my toons, but so far, I'm going to say secret buff.
3)
Trait revamps - I've fully ascribed to the Devs' argument that adding new rep traits has been gradually overpowering players, limiting how much more extensively they could draw the rep system. So, yes, it's a nerf. Let's call a spade a spade. But it's one that I endorse.
4)
Remastered Borg and Undine arcs - I recognize that the streamlining process has improved the story immensely. However, it does mean less net content, particularly in a storyline that's increasingly central to the game at this point. That having been said, the new maps are
exquisitely rendered. I'm going to miss at least some of those missions, though. I'm not clear why '
State of Q' had to go, since it was essentially a tangential one-off anyways.
5)
New Queued Events - Mixed bag thus far. I like the design intentions - but am a little underimpressed by the execution, particularly for content that's essentially designed to be repetitive grinding.
